Thursday, October 8, 2015

Irresistible Me Sapphire 8-in-1 Curling Wand

::: press sample :::

Once upon a time, I had really low maintenance hair. I'd slap a box of dye on it every couple of months, but other than that, I didn't do all that much. I didn't blow dry, I'd straighten every now and then, but I didn't even own any sort of curling apparatus. Those days are long gone though. While I still don't blow dry my hair very often, I can't go without a bit of added curl or straightening. My product usage has also been boosted, but that's a story for another day... Today is all about the curling wand that has stolen my heart: the Irresistible Me Sapphire 8-in-1 Curling Wand. With eight wands and one device, it allows you a pretty much endless array of styling options. Who doesn't like variety? Read on for a closer look!

Irresistible Me is most known for their selection of hair extensions, but I'm not really the extensions kind of girl, so I was generously given the option to review one of their tools. The have a straightener and the 8-in-1 Sapphire Curling Wand. While I do have a curler (this one) I was really excited about the fact that I'd have the option to create so many different types of curl with one device.

The Sapphire comes very neatly packaged in a black box that almost looks too small to hold all of it's contents. Inside, is the compact roll that holds everything- the eight wands, the device, a heat-proof stand, and glove. The roll snaps closed, making it the perfect way to store everything and travel with it. The roll is heat-proof as well, so there are no worries about popping things back in if they're still a bit warm.

The blue device- it kind of had to be blue with the name Sapphire- has a simple set of buttons (heat down, on/off, and heat up) with an easy to read LED display. The Once you plug it in, the display flashes blue and displays 'OFF'. It has an auto shut-off feature should you forget to turn it off, but it also only takes a glance to see if it's on or off. To turn it on, you simply hold the on/of button down for a second and then chose your desired heat setting (up to 425 F.) The display turns green once hot, and the amazing part is that it only takes about 20 seconds to heat up. This thing is seriously fast! I have finer textured, colour processed hair, so I don't go higher than 300 (I usually stick to 250) but still find I can get a full curl in about 5 seconds.

As mentioned, you get eight wands of varying size and shape. I was planning on trying them all before reviewing, but I got hooked on a couple and never got to the others... My first wand was the 32 mm, which is the largest size barrel. It gives big, bouncy curls and is best for those with longer hair who want more volume and loose curl. I like to leave my hair on the wand a bit longer to get the tightest curl possible, as I usually need to brush my hair after curling.

The Pearl was the second wand I reached for, and ultimately fell in love with. The bubble style barrel gives a messier, natural, uneven curl (that I call Mermaid curls) that has a beachy, undone vibe.

I forced myself to switch from the Pearl, and went with one of the tapered options, the 13/25 mm. The tapered shape gives a tighter curl near the ends that widens at the root. I really like the uniform curl this wand gives and size is perfect for an everyday curly look. My hair has some natural curl/wave and holds a curl quite well (most of it, there is one stubborn section) so I find I can get a few days out of one curling session. I tend to go for tighter curls, let them fully cool, then brush my hair out a bit. I find this gives me the looser look usually want, but also gives the curl a longer lasting hold.

The wand is quite light, even with a wand attached, which is a major plus when styling your hair. My hair is long-ish, so I often find myself needing to hold my arms in the air to get parts in the back. While it can be a bit awkward at times, the weight of the wand is never an issue. Plus, the cord swivels easily, so it's never in the way either. An added bonus. The heat proof glove is a necessity for me, as I'm used to using an automatic wand and never need to get too close to it (thus never burning myself.) While the wands have cool-touch tips, the glove makes styling faster and safer. The glove works for either hand- truly, I wear it on my left and it fits fine- and is a nice size for a woman's hand.

Wow, that got long, but what it all comes down to is that this is a pretty excellent wand! I've been really happy with every look I've created, and have been using it pretty much non-stop since it arrives. The price is a bit of an investment, but compared to other brands, it's quite competitive. Are you a fan of curls? What do you think of this curler?